title: Improved rat spinal cord injury model using spinal cord compression by percutaneous method.
abstract: Here, percutaneous spinal cord injury (SCI) methods using a balloon catheter in adult rats are described. A balloon catheter was inserted into the epidural space through the lumbosacral junction and then inflated between T9-T10 for 10 min under fluoroscopic guidance. Animals were divided into three groups with respect to inflation volume: 20 μL (n = 18), 50 μL (n = 18) and control (Fogarty catheter inserted but not inflated; n = 10). Neurological assessments were then made based on BBB score, magnetic resonance imaging and histopathology. Both inflation volumes produced complete paralysis. Gradual recovery of motor function occurred when 20 μL was used, but not after 50 μL was applied. In the 50 μL group, all gray and white matter was lost from the center of the lesion. In addition, supramaximal damage was noted, which likely prevented spontaneous recovery. This percutaneous spinal cord compression injury model is simple, rapid with high reproducibility and the potential to serve as a useful tool for investigation of pathophysiology and possible protective treatments of SCI in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Veterinary Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Konkuk University, Seoul 143-701, Korea.
authors.forename: Wook-Hun
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Jae-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Dai-Jung
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Wo-Jong
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: A-Jin
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Chi-Bong
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hwa-Seok
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Dae-Hyun
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Hyo Jin
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chung
authors.forename: Hyun Jung
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Suh
authors.forename: Soo-Han
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: Hoon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Sun Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Hwi-Yool
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D063125:Balloon Embolectomy / Q000379:methods*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000628:therapy*
keywords: balloon compression; laminectomy-free; magnetic resonance imaging; percutaneous spinal cord injury; rat